Spiral (Tunnels) by Roderick Gordon

Author:Roderick Gordon [Gordon, Roderick]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Chicken House
Published: 2011-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Everyone had been ordered to report with their weapons and equipment to the area by the twin guardrooms at the far end of the entrance tunnel.

This was it. The moment they were all leaving.

Drake had given everybody white parkas with fur-lined hoods, and thick trousers of the same colour. Although the clothes were a little bulky to move around in, he said they’d be grateful for the insulation they provided when they went outside.

As Will looked at everyone in these white combats, he saw their vacant expressions, and how fidgety they were. He knew precisely what they were feeling. They were trying to hide their fear.

In the relative safety of the underground Complex, the threat posed by the Styx Phase felt so far away. Like some nightmare that might fade from memory if one stopped dwelling on it.

Why us? Why can’t someone else deal with it? Will asked himself. There must be somebody else out there who knew what was going on, somebody better placed to fight it.

Given the choice, Will knew that he would simply turn around and just march back down the long tunnel again. The Complex might be very far from the real world, but it had been the closest thing to home that he’d known in a long time.

But then he looked again and noticed what lay behind Drake’s and Eddie’s expressions. Their eyes spoke of duty and quiet determination and doing what had to be done. Will told himself that he should try to emulate these men, and draw strength from them. He’d been so immersed in his thoughts that he hadn’t heard Drake speaking to him.

‘Have you got your earplugs?’ Drake asked for the second time.

Will nodded.

From his mobility scooter Sergeant Finch was helping Drake to give each of them a detailed equipment check before they were allowed to pass up the slope and into the darkness of the entrance chamber. Will had emptied his Bergen and arranged the contents neatly on the floor next to his belt kit and Sten submachine gun. Drake now praised him.

‘Perfect turnout,’ he said. ‘We’ll make a soldier of you yet.’

‘One last thing – comms check,’ Sergeant Finch reminded Drake, as he squinted at the list on his beloved clipboard while a cat slept on his lap.

Drake put his hand to his headset. ‘Testing – one – two – three,’ he whispered.

‘Got you loud and clear,’ Will confirmed.

‘Good kid, but now turn it off to conserve the juice. And that’s you done.’ Drake turned to Chester and began the process with him. Will repacked his Bergen, but held back for his friend, who was clearly embarrassed as his mother seemed reluctant to let go of him.

Will’s heart went out to her as she clung to her son, speaking softly to him. Against all odds the Rawls family had been reunited, and it felt wrong that Chester and his father were about to be separated from Mrs Rawls again.

Will threw a glance at his own mother as she stood not looking at anyone, in some sort of ethereal detachment.

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